China continues to improve employment policies for disabled: expert

BEIJING -- A total of 9.42 million registered disabled people of working age were employed in China as of the end of 2017, according to an official with the China Disabled Person's Federation.

"There are around 3,000 service institutions for the disabled in China, providing the disabled with consultation on employment policies and offering employment registration and introduction services," said Zhang Xinlong, director of the education and employment department of CDPF.

Zhang said the country's disabled person's federations at all levels had established more than 6,000 vocational training bases for the disabled, providing training for more than 600,000 disabled people each year.

Policies to support employment of the disabled continued to roll out, featuring tax preference, government procurement and employment guarantee funds.

By 2020, each Chinese county will have at least one institution offering employment to those with intellectual disabilities and severe disabilities. At least one disabled person should be employed in provincial-level Party or government organs and municipal working committees for the disabled, according to policies issued in 2015 and 2013, respectively.

Zhang said job hunting as a disabled person is rarely easy.

"Many of them can only find low-paid jobs and are still supported by their families. Employment services and training provided by service institutions are insufficient. Preferential policies have not been implemented by some employers," Zhang said.

To address these problems, Zhang called for more efforts to improve employment policies for the disabled and explore new jobs for them.

"More disabled people should be encouraged and trained to take jobs in the Internet and e-commerce industries, or to start their own businesses," Zhang said.

China has more than 17.55 million registered disabled people of working age.